Floor mat



Nov. 18, 1941. G. A. PETTIT FLOOR MAT Filed Oct. 6, 1959 Patented Nov.18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOOR MAT George A. Pettit, NewOrleans, La.

Application October 6, 1939, Serial No. 298,326

2 Claims.

This invention relates to floor mats and more particularly to animproved floor mat construction.

One object of this invention is to provide a floor mat which can becompactly folded when not in use.

Another object is to provide a floor mat so constructed and arrangedthat expansion of the parts will not cause the mat to bind.

Yet another object is to provide a new and improved floor matconstruction.

Gther objects and advantages of this invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate correspondingparts in the various figures;

Figure 1 is a plan view, showing a floor mat incorporating features ofthis inventive concept.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the mat as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the mat in folded position.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 with parts broken away.

Considering the drawing in greater detail, in

Figure 1 is shown, in planview, a floor mat in corporating features ofthis invention. The mat comprises a plurality of sections, I0, ll, I2and I3, each formed of a plurality of spaced main links 15 interposedbetween the adjacent ends of which are spacing connecting links l6 andI! which are shorter in length than the first mentioned links. Theopposite end sections of the mat are similarly formed with alternatelong and short links [5 and I6 respectively, being fastened together bya hinge member I8, substantially in the shape of an elongated U with theends 19 and 20 of the sides thereof inturned as clearly seen in Figure4, with a sleeve 2| encircling the ends and holding the parts together.

These same hinge connections are provided between folding sections.However, although the metal hinge member I8 extends through both of theholes 22 and 23 in the short links, they extend through only one hole 24and 25 respectively of the long links. All of the links are providedwith apertures through which the hinge may extend, but the outer links26 and 21 are also provided with metal bushings 28 and 29 to preventwear and binding of the joints at these points. The metal bushings alsoserve to prevent binding between the hinge member and the link itself.

floor mats out of metal, which will not absorb moisture, it isdesirable, as in the present case, to make the various link elements outof oak wood. Where the mat is resting on a floor surface which is wet, acertain amount of moisture will be absorbed, resulting in expansion ofthe wood, both transversely of the links and transversely of the holesthrough the links. If the mat is not properly constructed this expansionwill result in a binding of the parts, rendering the mat difficult tohandle and very inefficient in use. To preclude such difiiculties, thepresent mat incorporates certain novel constructions.

In the arrangement of parts shown in Figure 1, the central spacing linkis omitted, and a link 30 is secured to the links 3| and 32 on oppositesides of a center line through the floor mat. The three links aresecured together by shorter metal members 33 of substantially the samegeneral shape and contour as the hinge elements but of reduced length.In this manner, a space 35 remains in the hinge points so that anylateral expansion in the Various link elements is compensated for in thecenter portion.

It will be readily understood that with a floor mat of the constructiondescribed, the same may be readily folded and placed out of the Way whenit is unnecessary to use the same. With the device as illustrated, eventhough the place of use may be damp or wet, any resulting expansion ofthe parts is so provided for that binding cannot occur.

It will be understood that with certain mat constructions the springs orother yielding members may be positioned at points away from the hingeitself and need not necessarily be at the hinging point. Although oakwood has been mentioned, other kinds of suitable Wood may be used.Furthermore, in wide mats more than one row of expansive members may beused and, of course, in such cases, the expansion members need not andprobably will not be placed on a center line of the mat.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated anddescribed, variations within the true spirit and scope of the same areto be determined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A floor mat, comprising sets of main links arranged in rows disposedlaterally of the mat and spaced apart, sets of connecting links betweenadjacent sets of main links, pivot pins extending the width of the matand each connecting the ends of the links of adjacent sets of mainAlthough it y be p ble to make these and connecting links, each pivotpin providing a 10 predetermined extent.

tween adjacent sets of main links, pivot pins extending the width of themat and each connecting the ends of the links of adjacent sets of mainand connecting links, each pivot pin providing a predetermined gapdevoid of a connecting link between adjacent links to the set of mainlinks to allow for link expansion, a spacer member between the adjacentmain links on each side of the gap to maintain the gap between them toits GEORGE A. 'PE'I'IIT.

